Four army personnel also lost their lives in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

“The terrorists are believed to be linked to the February 14 car bombing. The exact identities of the two terrorists killed are being ascertained,” a defence spokesperson had told PTI earlier in the day.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation during the night after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

Militants fired at forces as the searches got under way, triggering a gun battle, officials said.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the February 14 terror attack that left 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel dead and five critically wounded.